How can I play for County?

So you want to play for county.All junior badminton players are welcome to join Wiltshire County Junior Badminton Squad.

Each prospective player needs to be recommended by their parent, coach, school or club through this email link.Age groups are Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 as defined by Badminton England’s age selector which can be found here.

BADMINTON England County Competition Eligibility:

The following regulations apply to all BADMINTON England County Championship and Challenge competitions.

All players must be in good standing with BADMINTON England and be either; a playing member* of BADMINTON England or registered with BADMINTON England if they are a member of another national association affiliated to the Badminton World Federation.

A player shall be eligible to represent a County if they:

a) Were born in that county

b) Currently reside in that countyc) Attend county training sessions.d) Are Badminton England members.

e) Currently in full time education in that county

f) Last represented that county

A player may not represent more than one county during the same season without special dispensation.

If a county proposes to use a player who has played for another county in the preceding season that county must notify the match secretary of the previous county, and BADMINTON England Competition & Events Team, of the change as soon as it is known and before the player plays for the new county for the first time.

Junior County; players must be below the qualifying age groups by the 1st January of that season.

Should a county be in any doubt regards a player’s eligibility then these should be made in writing to BADMINTON England Competition & Events Team by following the Appeals process laid out.

BADMINTON England reserves the right to grant special dispensations.

Definitions

a) Were born in that county

A player will be required to supply a copy of their birth certificate. County of birth will be determined using the County Boundaries.

b) Currently reside in that county

A player is considered to be resident in a county where, for the time being, it is usual for them to live and forms part of their regular and habitual mode of life for more than 183 days and nights of the year (31st July – 1st August). If residence is less than 183 days of the year then special dispensation is required.

In considering whether a person is resident, all the circumstances of the particular case will need to be considered and evidence to support the case by providing:

i)Two pieces of documentation from the list below. Players may provide evidence in their parents or legal guardians’ name.

ii)Can demonstrate that they will be at this address for 183 days of the year as part of their regular life (eg. reason for change, personal circumstance, work, school, family, property, social ties). Where the player is over 18 and has not provided two pieces of documentation in their own name then further evidence may be requested.

Documentation for proof of address:

·Current lease/tenancy agreement showing name and address.

·A mortgage statement from a recognised Lender (issued within the last 12 months).

·Residence you are named on the Land registry (eg. solicitor’s letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation).

·Notification of entitlement from the relevant agency confirming the right to benefits, state pension, educational grant, or other government/local authority grant (issued within the last 12 months).

For valuable documents you may prefer to send us certified copies rather than the original documents.

c) Currently in full time education in that county

The county will be determined for the place of education based on the admissions address. Proof of education may be required, whereby the following will apply:

By law, all children between 5 and 16 must receive full-time education that meets their needs (eg if they have special educational needs). This may be at school or home educated. For players over the

age of 16 to count as a full-time student, your course must:

i)last at least 6 months (where you are required to attend for at least 24 weeks of the year)

ii)involve at least 12 hours tuition or work experience per week during term time

As a guide this includes full-time college or university students, postgraduates, student nurses, apprentice schemes.

Documentation for proof of education:

·Letter of admission from the School, or letter from the school that demonstrates you are at that school.

·UCAS letter or student loan agreement from a Local Education Authority (issued within the last 6 months).

·Certificate of student status provided by your university or college (it is a requirement of the law for them to provide you a certificate if requested for up to a year after you complete your course).

·Council Tax Exemption Certificate that shows you are recognised as being in full time education. It might be necessary for a class schedule to be requested, or list of courses you are registered to attend in order to demonstrate at least 12 hours tuition or work experience per week.

d) Last represented that county

BADMINTON England records of recognised County Tournaments will be used.

Appeals Process

The following amendments in italics to be made to the regulation:

If a county proposes to use a player who has played for another county in the preceding season that county must notify the match secretary of the previous county, and BADMINTON England Competition & Events Team, of the change as soon as it is known and before the player plays for the new county for the first time. It is the responsibility of the new County to ensure that all players meet the qualification criteria and may be required to provide evidence to such effect.

Should a county be in doubt regards a player’s eligibility and can provide good reason or evidence to suggest that they may not be eligible then the following process shall be followed:

The case should be made in writing to BADMINTON England Competition & Events Team on an official form.

BADMINTON England shall respond within 7 days to acknowledge receipt.

BADMINTON England will contact the relevant county whose responsibility it will be to provide evidence on behalf of the player within 28 days of notice. During this period the player may continue to play; however this is at the risk that results may be discounted at a later point if found ineligible.

Where appropriate evidence has been supplied then BADMINTON England will confirm the player’s eligibility to both counties involved.

If the appropriate evidence cannot be provided by the County within 28 days then the player will be deemed ineligible until appropriate evidence can be supplied and will no longer be permitted to play.

The County may submit a request for special dispensation for that player.

BADMINTON England reserves the right to grant special dispensations. Requests for special dispensation must be made on the official form on the website here TBC. BADMINTON England will acknowledge receipt of the request within 7 days. Special dispensation must be signed off by the County Championships Policy Group and as such there is no fixed time for an outcome decision.

During this period the player will not be allowed to represent the County.

*A playing member is a paid member of BADMINTON England with the exception of Club England Social or Supporter.